Reform’s bank account frozen during election over ‘illegal donations’

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

Reform UK’s bank account was frozen during the 2022 general election amid an investigation into potentially unlawful donations totaling £1.5 million from Fiona Cottrell, linked to her son George Cottrell, a convicted money launderer who also secretly funded Nigel Farage’s campaign expenses. The controversy led to Farage’s resignation and an upcoming by-election with major parties opting out, while ongoing probes continue to examine the origin and legality of the funds.

Reform UK’s bank account was frozen during the 2022 general election amid concerns over potentially unlawful donations linked to the mother of a convicted criminal, according to recent disclosures. Authorities are investigating funds received from Fiona Cottrell, mother of George "Posh George" Cottrell, who has also been connected to secret financial support for Nigel Farage, a prominent figure associated with Reform UK.

During a two-week stretch that included polling day on July 4, 2022, Reform UK was unable to process transactions through its Arbuthnot Latham account after the bank implemented compliance checks. The banking institution reportedly declined to provide detailed explanations beyond confirming these checks. The freeze followed suspicious activity reports filed by the bank with the UK's National Crime Agency concerning £1 million in donations from Ms. Cottrell.

Ms. Cottrell, described as a retired stylist, donated £500,000 directly to Reform UK and an additional £1 million to a business owned by Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice. Half of this latter sum was subsequently transferred to the party. Police opened an investigation in February 2023 amid concerns the source of the funds may have been deliberately obscured.

Earlier reports revealed that George Cottrell, who was convicted in the United States in 2017 on charges related to money laundering conspiracy, had clandestinely funded staff, security, and accommodation expenses for Nigel Farage during the last general election campaign. Farage did not declare these benefits, citing that he was not a Member of Parliament at the time and therefore not subject to parliamentary registration rules requiring disclosure of such benefits received within 12 months before election.

Following the emergence of these details, Nigel Farage resigned as MP for Clacton to prompt a by-election slated for next month. Major political parties have since announced they will not field candidates in the upcoming contest.

Further reports indicate that George Cottrell extended financial support to Mark Brnovich, a former attorney general of Arizona and known ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Mr. Brnovich received payments from Cottrell for “legal advice” amid lobbying efforts for a presidential pardon. Brnovich later received a nomination for an ambassadorship under Trump’s administration. He passed away in January 2024.

Cottrell has maintained that the legal advice remuneration was unrelated to his pardon application. He also described Susan Brnovich, the late official’s widow and a Trump-appointed federal judge involved in reviewing pardon requests, as a personal friend. Susan Brnovich recently visited Cottrell’s residence in Montenegro, where he holds tax residency, and their association includes private interactions such as shared family holidays.

Messages between the late Brnovich and Trump with the phrase “Make Montenegro Great Again” have been reported to be displayed by Cottrell at his Montenegrin flat.

Arbuthnot Latham declined to comment on the frozen account. Reform UK dismissed the reports as part of a series of smear campaigns, labeling many claims as false. George Cottrell criticized the media’s coverage of Susan Brnovich’s visit as an attempt to intimidate him and those close to him.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.